The Magician's Daughter
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 First edition cover | |
| Author | H. G. Parry |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genres | |
| Publisher | Orbit Books |
Publication date | 28 February 2023 |
| Publication place | New Zealand |
| Media type | Trade paperback |
| Pages | 400 |
| ISBN | 978-0-356-52031-5 |
The Magician's Daughter is a 2023 historical fantasy novel by New Zealand author H. G. Parry. It was first published in February 2023 in the United Kingdom by Orbit Books and in the United States by its imprint, Redhook Books. The novel was nominated for the American Library Association's 2024 Alex Awards.[1]
The Magician's Daughter was generally well-received by critics,[2][3][4] although a reviewer in Locus magazine criticised the novel for largely ignoring the narrative's historical setting.[5]
In 1912, sixteen-year-old Biddy lives on Hy-Brasil, an enchanted island off the coast of Ireland that is hidden from the rest of the world. After being shipwrecked and washed ashore as an infant, she was adopted by Rowan O'Connell, an Irish mage, and his rabbit-shaped familiar spirit, Hutchincroft. As she got older, Biddy found out that every night Rowan turned into a raven and flew off the island, but always returned before dawn. She questions him as to why he will not allow her to leave the island, but is told that she is not old enough. One night, Rowan does not return from his nocturnal outing. Unlike her guardians, Biddy does not have the ability to perform magic, but she uses a magical artefact from Rowan's study to enter his dreams and rescues him from a trap cast by his former fiancée, the mage Morgaine.
Safely back on Hy-Brasil, Rowan explains to Biddy the reason for his nightly excursions, and why they are hiding on Hy-Brasil. She learns that magic is a non-renewable resource, and that seventy years ago it began to run out. The British Magicians' Council in London imposed a restriction on the use of magic and started collecting all the free magic it could find for itself. All mages were instructed to surrender their magic, but Rowan and Hutchincroft defied the council and hid on Hy-Brasil where magic was still freely available. Every night Rowan flew out to search for new sources of magic and hid it from the council. But on his last trip Rowan was entrapped and betrayed by Morgaine, who is working for the council. Unfortunately, Biddy's intervention reveals the existence of Hy-Brasil to Rowan's enemies and they send wisp-like bone-creatures to attack the island. Rowan defeats them with magic, but realises that they are no longer safe on Hy-Brasil. He discovers that Biddy has a hidden source of magic in her heart that is drawing the attention of other mages. Biddy volunteers to leave the island to draw out and entrap Council magicians, and Rowan reluctantly allows her to go to London.